Protest in Kolkatta

[Guest guest]

http://www.dailyindia.com/show/85836.php/ISKCON-protests-against-demolition-

of-temples-in-Kazakhstan

 

http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2006/11/1BC2B4F5-C8D3-4F04-BD3F-D6DA1B0

12C36.html

 

BBC Article

 

http://search.bbc.co.uk/cgi-bin/search/results.pl?tab=av&q=antelava&recipe=a

ll& scope=all&edition=i

 

 

 

21 November 2006

KAZAKHSTAN: STATE BULLDOZES HARE KRISHNA COMMUNE, BIDS TO CHAIR OSCE

http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=873

As Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev is in London seeking support for

his bid to chair the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe

(OSCE), state authorities began today (21 November) bulldozing the only

Hare Krishna commune in the region, Forum 18 News Service has learnt. The

costs of the demolition are being imposed by the authorities on the Hare

Krishna devotees and OPON riot police have sealed off the commune. "At

present a bulldozer is knocking down one house," Hare Krishna devotee

Anastasia told Forum 18 from the site as she watched the destruction,

"while a further four are being knocked down by hand." Officials carrying

out the destruction have refused to speak to Forum 18. The demolition

contradicts earlier Kazakh official assurances that all actions in the

authorities long-running attempt to take over the commune would be frozen.

Religious freedom and other human rights in Kazakhstan have been for some

years under increasing threat from President Nazarbayev's government.

 

 

24 November 2006

KAZAKHSTAN: WILL REST OF HARE KRISHNA COMMUNE NOW BE DESTROYED?

http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=876

With almost a quarter of the Hare Krishna-owned homes in their Sri

Vrindavan Dham commune on the outskirts of Almaty already destroyed,

community members are afraid that the rest of the 66 homes - including

their temple - could be next. "The community is in shock, but they are

determined to defend their homes and place of worship," community member

Govinda Swami told Forum 18 News Service. He says destruction of the

temple would be "devastating". Neighbouring houses owned by non-Krishna

devotees have not been touched and sources have told Forum 18 that

President Nursultan Nazarbayev's brother has designs on the property.

Local administration chief Bagdad Akhmetayev refused to say why the homes

were being destroyed when the court merely ordered the devotees' eviction,

telling Forum 18 "I simply came to watch the demolition and I am not

prepared to make any comment. Please ask the court bailiffs directly." The

bailiffs refused to talk to Forum 18. Police prevented OSCE officials from

reaching the village during the 21 November destruction.